Portable sectional refrigerator



J. E. TWITTY YOHTABLE SECTIONAL REFRIGERATOR Filed May 24, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Jan, 8, 1929.

J. E. TWITTY PORTABLE SECTIONAL REFRIGERATOR Filed May 24, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet r-manta! Patented Jan. 8, 1929.

UNITED STATES 1,698,517 PATENT FFICE.

JOSEPH E. TWITT Y,'OF JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA.

PORTABLE SECTIONAL REFRIGERATOR.

Application filed May 24,

insulating material in the frames of the side wall units, so as to enable the side walls to present a continuous insulation, which moreover is adapted to form a lap joint..with the insulation of the top and bottom, thus providi'n'g the refrigerator throughout with a continuousbuttjointinsulatinglining. An advantage of this construction is that the framework is protected from such a variation in temperature as will cause it to sweat. I am enabled to rovide'a refrigerator with a lining especially suited to receive a cement plaster coating extending continuously about the entire surface of the refrigerator, and which, being supported wholly by the flexible insulation, is free to expand and contract without cracking.

A further important feature of my invention lies in the very simple and effective manner in which I attain the necessary confined air space between the inner insulation and outer radiating surface of the refrigerator. This I accomplish by mounting thev insulation so that it projects inwardly beyond its supporting frame a distance substantially corresponding to the width of the confined air space, thereby permitting the outer radiating surface to be attachedto the outer surface of the frame, and providing a simple and 'economical construction of the wall units.

My invention further comprises novel details of construction and arrangement of parts, which in their preferred embodiment only are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, which form a part of these specifications, and in which Figure 1 is a view showing my typical refrigerator partly in elevation and partly in vertical cross-section. Figure 2 is a fragmcntal cross-secti0nal plan view of one corner of the refrigerator.- Figure 3 is a sectional view showing one of the side wall sections with fragmental views of 1927. Serial No. 193,852.

co-related side and corner sections. Figure 4 1s a detail perspective View of one of the .standard wall sections. Figure 5 is a detail view showing the key lock for the frame sides and the joint made by the groove strip with the bottom plate.

Throughout the drawings, corresponding numerals refer to corresponding parts.

In the embodiment of my invention illustrated, and which will be understood as typical of any size or type of refrigerator, I have shown a portable sectional refrigerator composed of a bottom frame or plate (5) corresponding substantially to the horizontal crosssectional dimensions of the refrigerator, and which receives and confines within it the sections of cork or like insulation (6) which, as

will be seen in Figure 1, project substantially above the upper wall of the plate, and which rest on the foundation or support for the re frigerator. The top of the refrigerator is formed by a frame or plate (7),,similar to (5) and which receives the sections of cork or insulation (8) which project substantially below the bottom level of the plate. These cork sections are attached to ceiling joists (9) or eguivalent bars, resting upon thetop plate and servin to support the cork or insulation firmly in p ace.

The side walls 'of the refrigerator are formed by a plurality of duplicate units,

except the door which is illustrated conventionally at (10) being mounted by hinges (11) to its door section, which preferably occupies the space of a wall section. The duplicate sections, all of which are alike, comprise a marginal frame (12), formed of wood, metal, or any suitable material. In the drawing I show a frame formed of wood, framing 2 1; by 3%. This frame has a width corresponding to the length of the standard cork board, and in height equal to any desired multiple of the cork boards or a fraction thereof.- The sections of cork board (13) are set in this frame against a stop strip (14) nailed on its inside at the desired distance from the outer surface of the frame. The distance that the inner face of the stop strip is set from the outer surface of the frame determines the size of the confined air space (15) which is to be provided between the cork and the outer surfacing (16), which may be of any suitable material, such for instance, as any standard stucco or plaster re ceiving board, metal lath, or the like, which is adapted to be attached to the outer surface thus rigidly assembling the side wall sections to each other, and to the corners.

I insert cork filler strips (20) to fill in' the space between the cork or insulation in the adjacent side units and to insulate the abutting side walls of the frame. In completing the exterior of the assembled box, I nail a ground strip (21) along the vertical joint between the side wall sections, and to the top and bottom plates (5) and (7), this ground strip being narrower than the combined width of the interlocked framed sections, thereby permitting the edges of the'outside wall board (16) t0 over-lap and to be attached to the margin of the frame and the stop (14). This ground strip determines the thickness of the cement plaster or stucco coating (22), which is applied to the wall or stucco board (16), and the joints are covered by a trim (23) along the sides, and by trim boards (24:) and (25) at the co ners. Any suitable quarter-round finishing (26) may be applied at the corners, and the cork filler (27) is inserted in the square space left between the edges of the cork boards at the corners.

It will be observed that the projecting cork boards (13) will over-lap the bottom cork, and under-lap the top cork, and that the filler strips (20) will provide a continuous inside wall of insulation, it being understood that the door is itself suitably insulated. Preferably the filler strips (20) are cut slightly wider than the standard space left between the adjacent exposed edges of the cork sections (13), and in practice, I drive these filler strips (20) into place so that they will be held tightly in place by the resiliency of the cork or insulating material. The inside walls of the refrigerator are preferably covered with a coating of plaster cement, which being supported throughout on the yieldable cork or insulation, is free to expand and contract uniformly throughout and will not crack or check responsive to expansion and contraction.

It is important to know that in tearing down and re-assembl ing my refrigerator all the insulating material is preserved in proper position in its supporting frame and is not lost, with the exception of the cork filler strips (20), the filler strip (27 beingnailed to one or the other frames and coming down with it intact. Thus my refrigerator is truly portable and can be readily taken down and assembled, and enlarged and decreased in capacity as conditions require.

The side wall frames are aligned and secured to the bottom plate (5) and top frame (7 by dowel pins (28), andlag screws (29), connect the top frame to the top side wall sections. The bottom rests'free of attachment on its foundation, and thus the refrigerator does not become attached to the build-' ing, and will bridge any irregularities in the floor or' foundation.

It will be understood that the spirit and scope of my invention contemplatesvarious changes in the details of construction and arrangement of parts, which are comprehended within the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. A refrigerator of the character .de-

scribed, comprising insulated top and bottomsections and a plurality of knock-down wallsections, each section comprising a marginal frame; means to assemble the frames at the sides and corners; insulation mounted within each-frame, and projecting inwardly therefrom, in position to make a lap joint with the insulation of the top and bottom sections; and means to connect the side wall sections to the top and bottom sections.

2. A refrigerator according to claim 1 in which the bottom section comprises a marginal confining frame for the insulation which projects thereabove, said frame being adapted to support said wall section frames.

3. A refrigerator, according to claim 1, in which the top comprises a marginal frame carryin overhead supports for the insulation mounted therein, which insulation underhangs said frame, and which frame is adapted to rest on the top of the said section frames.

4. A refrigerator comprising a bottom insulating section, and a lurality of side wall insulating sections, eacii comprising a marginal frame having insulation mounted within, and projecting inwardly therefrom means to assemble the side wall frames on the top and bottom sections, and filler strips of insulation adapted to fill the spaces between the cork in the side wall sections, and to insulate the frames thereof.

5. A refrigerator, according to claim 4, in which the inwardly projecting insulation from the side wall sections is adapted to make a lap joint with the insulation of the top and bottom sections and said continuous inner surface of insulation is covered by a cement plaster coating.

6. A refrigerator comprising top and bottom insulated sections and a plurality of knock-down side wall sections, and means to assemble said side wall sections with the top and bottom sections, each side wall section comprising a marginal frame, and insulation confined therein, and projecting inwardly therefrom, the inner wall of Said insulation being spaced from the outer surface of the frame, each frame carrying an outer plaster receiving surface, forming the outer wall of the confined air space provided between it and the insulation.

7. A refrigerator, according to claim 6, in combina Lion with means to tie the abutting frames to each other.

8. A refrigerator, according to claim 6, in combination with ground strips mounted over the joints between the abutting side wall frames, and plaster applied to said plaster receiving surface within the marginal walls formed by said ground strips.

9. A refrigerator comprising a bottom formed of a marginal plate, inclosing insulation of greater thickness than the plate, a plurality of side wall sections, each comprising a marginal frame adapted to set on said plate; means to align and attach each side wall frame to said plate, each side Wall frame inclosing insulation disposed to project inwardly therefrom, and leave a space between the insulation and outer surface of the frame, and an outer plaster receiving wall attached to the frame, and forming a confined air chamber in each side wall frame; means to connect the side wall frames to each other; means to mount the insulated top on the side wall frames, and insulation filler strips interposed to fill the joints between the cork in the side Wall frames.

10. A refrigerator, according to claim 9, in which the cork insulation in the top and bottom of the refrigerator projects sufficiently to make a butt joint with the over-hung insulation from the side wall frames and the interposed filler strips.

11. A refrigerator having its bottom formed by sheets of insulation adapted to rest on a suitable support, and a confining plate surrounding said insulation, and of less thickness than the insulation, in combination with the side walls and top, the side walls comprising frames adapted to be supported by and secured to the bottom plate, and carrying insulation adapted to over-lap the bottom insulation.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

JOSEPH E. TWITTY. 

